Transfer stations' gates, lids locked after hours




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POSTED: 26 September, 2008

Transfer stations' gates, lids locked after hours

by Lailani Mendoza

The two gates and blue garbage bins at the Sun Peaks transfer station will be locked after hours to keep the bears away until they go into hibernation sometime in November, said Peter Hughes, environmental services director for the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD).

Two bears have been visiting the station quite frequently, so the B.C. Conservation Office has informed the TNRD that something has to be done to resolve the situation, Hughes said.

The transfer station will be open from noon to 6 p.m. (except Wednesdays and Fridays) until Oct. 31 with all receptacles being locked during off hours.

It's not the bear's fault, said Wilf Bennett, site attendant at the transfer station.

"After hours, people still come in here and dump stuff and leave my lids open for Mr. Bear to come down and get in there. So they're spoiling it for themselves, and tonight I'll lock every blue bin and both gates," said Bennett yesterday, when the locking policy started.

Bennett said that he also witnessed the bear learn how to open the bin on its own. The bear started pawing the bin, discovered the latch that opened the lid and used its snout to lift the top to get in. "The bear is actually smarter than some people who don't know how to close the lids," he said, frustrated at how careless some people are.

Residents and visitors are urged not to leave any garbage outside the bins or at the gate at the transfer station when it's closed as this will provide food for the bears and will ultimately lead to their destruction.

Fencing around the transfer station is one of the future options being considered by the TNRD Solid Waste Management Program.